National City Christian Church and Foundation is thrilled to introduce you in this month’s board member spotlight the Chair of the Foundation board, Loretta Franklin. Loretta has been a member of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), making the church her spiritual community for over 50 years. She started attending National City Christian Church in 2001 and officially transferred her membership in 2002. Over the years, Loretta has had the opportunity to serve several Disciples churches as deacon and elder in Texas, Illinois, and Georgia, and at National City Christian Church.
Service was a hallmark of her upbringing, as both Loretta’s parents were educators and demonstrated service through their vocation and in their community involvement, helping adults who wanted to learn to read and to be able to vote.
In addition to her work within the church, Loretta brings to the Foundation a wealth of experience from her time in high education. She served as the president of DeVry University for the Mid-Atlantic region with campuses in Maryland, Virginia, and North Carolina for 14 years. Prior to that post, she led in various administrative and teaching positions. Retirement has provided more time with her granddaughter, and she enjoys seeing life through her eyes. In addition to family, Loretta also volunteers with an auxiliary that supports the INOVA Alexandria Hospital through scholarships for nurses and projects for the hospital community efforts.
As part of our Board Member spotlight series we asked Loretta several questions we’ve asked each of our board members.
What are you reading or listening to right now?
As I have grown, I find the book that I am sticking to the most is the Bible. It’s allowed me to have good discussions with people, including members at National City. Reading the Bible has helped me let go of things I used to work.
What has brought you hope in the last year?
The one thing that I would say has brought me hope is seeing people and organizations that care enough to feed the multitude–like Jose Andres and World Central Kitchen. People living their faith in that way inspires me to live out my faith through beliefs and actions.
Why is the work of the Foundation important?
The work of the Foundation is important to me because the one thing that I love about the foundation is the principle on which it was founded. To know that there were individuals that believed that there needed to be a platform in DC close to the powers that be, share the good news of Jesus Christ and ensure that the Foundation continued to develop the strength of Disciples across the country. To be able to show the strength of Disciples together across the country and welcome those across the country as they come and speak in DC to the powers that be, is important.
It is the intersection of Loretta’s heart for congregational life, her years of experience in higher education and study of scripture that make her a rich member of the Foundation board.